HE’S A Shelthorpe born and bred family man and he’s just made a giant step towards super-stardom.

It’s safe to say Jim Wallhead can’t wait for 2010, and in particular April, where he will make his bow in front of millions of viewers in the Bellator Fighting Championships.

A few months ago he was lauded as ‘the top 170 pound fighter in Europe yet to be signed.’

Over the past 18 months he has regularly been on the verge of signing up to the big time in America only to have suffered from broken promises and possible employers suffering financial problems.

This time thankfully though the ink on a three year contract is dry and in the spring Shellthorpe’s golden boy is off to the States.

“It’s taken its time in coming but now it’s finally here,” beamed a delighted Wallhead. “I knew last week but I wasn’t allowed to say anything so it’s great that it’s all sorted now.

“It’s a great opportunity for me in a high profile tournament shown worldwide.

“I’ve been looking for a home in a big promotion for quite a while, so I’m just over the moon about signing with Bellator.

“I watched the Bellator shows last year, and it’s really just a great, high-standards promotion. I’m relishing the challenge to let it all hang out, to take some risks and, hopefully, to have some success against the top competition in the world.

“They’ve got some great fighters and in a few years time I can see the Bellator series challenging the UFC as the most popular in the world.”

Wallhead is nicknamed ‘Judo’ due to his upbringing and earned his black belt in judo aged 16 and won Britain’s U21 Judo championship at the age of 19.

He made his professional MMA debut in 2005 at the age of 21 and has since compiled wins over top MMA talents like UFC veterans Jason Tan and Steven Lynch.

In his most recent fight, Wallhead won a unanimous decision against former TUF participant Che Mills in Wales.

The 25-year-old is married to Joanna and has a three-year-old daughter called Georgia.

Despite his success Wallhead plans to stay in the area.

“Here, in Leicester and Nottingham I have some of the best coaches in the world helping me. Why would I move away from them?

“I will travel a bit and my training partner Dan Harding has a big UFC fight coming up in America where I’ll be in his corner.

“It just feels great. I’ve been let down so many times and I’m particularly happy for my wife and parents who have helped me so much.